new gentoo user, almost, and in the handbook in the installing base section just before installing the kernel, it brings up the topic of USE variables. i understand the idea behind them, and that there are global and local USE variables to be set.
i am soliciting more senior wisdom on setting my USE flags, particularly if there is a need to configure the global USE flag during install before installing the kernel.

as far as the c/cxx flags, i took the suggestion from the safe c flags page.
also, i will be using i3wm, and didnt see any firm suggestions in the literature about which ones to use. should i just set the flags for kde/gnome/ etc to negative?

this is my first install, and im doing the first install on a pc, but will be doing it for another hard drive and laptop once i get a better grasp so if anyone has some suggestions past reading the handbook i would say thank you!

default/linux/amd64/17.* is the profile i choose, so i will have to install x11 or whichever it is... so i should take it then that i can put off configuring USE flags until a later time? shootin for the full gentoo experience

I've not used the default/linux/amd64/17.* profile. I imagine portage will prompt you to set required USE flags on a per package basis where needed. dispatch-conf & etc-update are useful for managing this.

default/linux/amd64/17.* is the profile i choose, so i will have to install x11 or whichever it is... so i should take it then that i can put off configuring USE flags until a later time? shootin for the full gentoo experience

If you choose the right profile, you will get a good set of default USE settings.

When you decide that you want some extra (non default) features across your system, you can add them later.
Likewise you can turn features off.

This is the hard bit for new users as its something the binary distros do for you.

If system wide settings do not give you enough control, portage supports per package USE settings too.
Some packages depend on other things being built with the right USE flags, so all combinations are not legal.

To see all of your system wide settings, run

Code:

emerge --info

There are several USE flag editors too. Try ufed for one._________________Regards,

NeddySeagoon

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